Lighting fixture and fittings therefor



Feb. 27, 1951 P. 'D. PHILLIPS LIGHTING FIXTURE AND FITTINGS THEREFORFiled Dec. 23, 1944 Patented Feb. 27, 1951 LIGHTING FIXTURE AND FITTINGSTHEREFOR Paul D. Phillips, Elmhurst, Ill., assignor to Benjamin ElectricMfg. Company, Desplaines, 111., a corporation of Illinois ApplicationDecember 23, 1944, Serial No. 569,489

9 Claims.

. 1 This invention relates to light fixtures, more particularly tofluorescent lamp fixtures for housing a plurality of fluorescent lampsand fittings therefor and it is an object of the invention to provideimproved lighting fixtures and-- fittings therefor of the characterindicated.

While the invention will be described in connection with fluorescentlamp fixtures, it will be apparent to those skilled in this art thatmodifications may be made to adapt the inven v tion for use with othertypes of light fixtures. Fluorescent lamps create illumination which .isrelatively free from glare and which may be viewed quite directlywithout producing harsh reactions on the eyes. However, where it is.necessary for a fluorescent lamp to be viewed directly for. relativelylong periods of time, eye strain results. To prevent this situationfluorescent lamps are put in shades or reflectors which reflect thelight and prevent glare, such reflectors being ordinarily provided withrela tively long sides so that it is not possible to see the fluorescentlamp directly unless the viewer is quite close to the fixture.

With the increasing use of fluorescent light; ingv it has become commonpractice to place plurality of fluorescent lamps in' a single fixture orreflector. Particularly, is this true in industrial lightingapplications where large numbers of fixtures are used. In many instancesthe fixtures are placed high above the floor with the result that evenwith long reflector sides the fluorescent lamp is visible to a viewersome distance away. This situation is aggravated by having a pluralityof fluorescent lamps in one fixture since a lamp spaced parallel toanother lamp is viewable at a different angle or from a difierentposition and thus while the reflector may shield one lamp it may notshield the other. Accordingly, it is a further object of the inventionto provide improved fluorescent lamp fixtures for shielding a pluralityof fluorescent lamps so that all of the lamps are viewable at the sameangle.

It is a further object of the invention to provide improved shielding orbaffle means for shielding the lamps in a. fluorescent lamp flxture.

It is a further object of the invention to provide improved shielding orbaffle means that is free from warping and is a highly efficient reflecting surface for use in. a light fixture.

It is a further object of the invention to provide improved lampshielding or baffle means that is simple to use and assemble.

In carrying out the invention in one form a reflector having top andside reflecting surfaces lamps, bafile means are placed between thelamps. More particularly a bafile comprising a pair of opposed lightreflecting surfaces, including mounting brackets, extending between thelight reflecting surfaces for attaching the bafile to the reflector isprovided. The reflecting surfaces have beams arranged for attaching themto the bracket and thermally resistant cushioning blocks or washers areplaced between each of the reflecting surfaces and the bracket.

For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference should behad to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevational view of a fluorescent lamp fixtureembodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along line22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of a modification of one element of theinvention, shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4. is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 ofFig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an elevational View of a further modification of one elementofthe invention, shown in Fig. l; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawing, the invention is shown in Fig. 1 as embodiedin a light fixture I0 comprising a metallic reflector H and a bafile orshield 12 attached to the reflector by a bracket l3. The reflector H ismade of any suitable material, for'example sheet metal, and is formedinto a configuration having a top reflecting surface I4 and sidereflecting surfaces I5 and IS. The top and side reflecting surfaces maybe provided with any desired angular reflecting portions and ariin I1 isprovided around the lower edge of the sides to give the reflector thenecessary rigidity. The reflector is of proper length to accommodatefluorescent lamps of a desired wattage and end members 2% and H may beused to complete the unit. The lengths of fluorescent lamps vary from afew inches to several feet, four foot lengths being quite common and thereflector is of corresponding length, proper provision being made (notshown) for supporting the fluorescent lamps in the reflector. It isunderstood that the inside surface of the reflector is treated or coatedto provide a smooth reflecting surface that will be free fromimperfections. One well known method is to coat the surface with whitevitreous enamel.

Positioned within the reflector l I by well known means, notillustrated, are the fluorescent lamps I 8 and H), which may be of awell known type comprising a cylindrical tube having a relatively smalldiameter and being relatively long, the fluorescent lamps beingsymmetrically spaced from the center line of the reflector and sepapwith enamel. 22 and 23 are provided, respectively, such as by bending,with concave portionsi25 and 26 which 3 rated by the bafiie l2 which isof a length approximately to the length of the fluorescent lamps.

The baflle I2 is arranged between the fluorescent lamps i8 and I9 toimprove the lighting quality of the reflector as will be explained andincludes the reflecting members 22 and 23 which may be coated with whitevitreous enamel to provide a good reflecting surface. The reflectingmembers 22 and 23 extend approximately the full length of the reflectorand may be constructed by bending a flat piece of sheet metal into theconfiguration shown thereby providing a. smooth bottom curved portion 24which is also coated The upper edges of the members face each other toform a channel and which slight warping may result in chipping or cracking the enamel and impair the reflecting surface.

I make the bail'ie i2 sufliciently rigid so that it will not warp underthe effects of the heat from the vitreous enameling process.

This is an important consideration since the battle is long andtherefore has considerable area which may be coated with a vitreousenamel and consequentl Any desired number of brackets 53 may be used toattach the baffle 12 to the reflector ll depending on the length of thebaiile. For a bathe used with fluorescent lamps up to four feet inlength,

two brackets may be used one adjacent each end here 22 and 23. threadedin a suitable hole in the vertical porof the bafiie. The bracket l3 maybe formed of relatively heavy gauge metal by a stamping operation, forexample, and includes a horizontally bent fastening portion 22 a and avertical por tion 21 extending between the reflecting mem- As shown inFig. l a screw 23 is tion 21, the screw head being spaced therefrom by anut 29 and the baiile being held to thebracket l3 by the concaveportions 25 and 26 contacting the shank and the head of the screw.Spaced between inside surfaces of the reflecting members 22 and 23,respectively, and the bracket por;

- tion 21 are cushioning blocks 38 and 3! which may be asbestos, forexample, the: blocks being glued or fastened by some. other means to thebracket portion 27 and unattached to the members 22 and 23. The members22 and 23 are re silient with respect to each other and engage theblocks thereby to form with the screw 28 a, firm plete the fasteningmeans.

' and vibration free connection with the bracket i3. It will beunderstood that to assemble the bracket l'3 to the bafiie #2 it is onlynecessary to slide the bracket I3with the blocks 30 and 3! attachedthereto into the space between the reflecting members 22 and 23, asshown, so that the shank and head of the screw are received in thechanlnel formed by the concave portions 25 and 26.

In Figs. 3, 4, and 6 are shown brackets 32 and 33 which aremodifications of bracket [3 and which are similarthereto except for thebent out lugs 34 on the bracket 32 and the pushed outprotuberances 35 onthe bracket 33 which correspond to the screw 28 threaded in.the bracketportion 21.

is easilyv assembled. by first assembling the brackets [3 to thebafile'lZ and then inserting 4 the bolts 36 into the holes in thereflector top [4. A thermally resistant washer 36a is placed between theinside of the reflector top 14 and the bracket portion 27a to provide avibration free connection.

With the light fixture mounted for use, an observer approaching in thedirection of the arrow shown in Fig. 1, would see the fluorescent lampl9 at some point distant from the fixture when his line of sight isrepresented by the broken line 39 which is tangent to the lower portionof the lamp -9 and is tangent to or just touches the edge I1. When thebaflie i2 is not present, it will be apparent that the same observerwill be able to see the lamp it when he is at a much greater distancefrom the light fixture since his line of sight is represented by thebroken line as which 1 is tangent to the lower portion of the lamp [8and also just touches or is tangent to theedge 27. Under this situation,even though the depth of the reflector is such that an observer cannotsee the lamp [9 except when close to it, the observer may view the lampi8 continuously. To prevent this from occurring the bafiie i2 is sodimensioned that its lower portion 25 extends below the lamps l8 and H!to the point where the line of sight of an observer approaching asalreadyindicated is represented by the broken line H which is tangent tothe lower edge of the lamp l8 and is tangent to the edge 2d of thebaifie, the broken line 4| being parallel to the broken line 39. Inother words, with the baffle the lamps are viewable from the same angle.In order not to prevent the top reflecting surface [4 from being used asa reflector by each lamp, the top edge of the battle is positioned belowthe reflecting surface 54, but in order not to make the top surface oflamp I8 visible to an observer before he can view the lamp [9, the topedge of the bafile [2 extends above the broken line 42 which is tangentto the top surface of the lamp s and is parallel to the line 39'.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that reflectors may beprovided for housing more than two lamps and that in such a case abaflle is placed between every lamp and the succeedinglamp, each baffiebeing positioned according to the foregoing principles.

While a: particular embodiment of the invention has been shown it willbe understood of course, that the invention is not limited thereto sincemany modifications may be made, and it is,

therefore, contemplated by the appended claims to cover any suchmodifications as come within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to besecured by Letters Patent 1. A light bafile comprising a pair of spacedreflectingmembers joined along one edge thereof to form a continuous andsmooth light reflecting surface, the free edges of said reflectingmembers being bent to form curved portions concave toward each other toform a channel, a bracket extending between said reflecting members, andprotuberances integrally formed with said bracket and received in saidchannel for attaching said reflecting members to said bracket.

a concave edge extending longitudinally thereof to provide a stiffeningmember, means on said bracket engaging said concave edges to attach saidreflecting members to said bracket, said reflecting members beingresiliently formed relative to each other thereby to maintain engagementbetween said concave edges and said bracket means, and cushioning blocksplaced between each of said reflecting members and said bracket.

3. A light bafile comprising a pair of opposed light reflecting membersspaced from each other and integrally joined along one edge thereof witha smooth curved portion to form a continuous and smooth light reflectingsurface, stiffening members extending along the other edges of saidreflecting members, said stiffening members being uniformly smooth alsoto provide a continuous light reflecting surface, a bracket extendingbetween said light reflecting surfaces for attaching said baiile to alight fixture, projections on said bracket cooperating with saidstiffening members for attaching said bracket to said light reflectingmembers, and cushioning blocks spaced between each of said reflectingmembers and said bracket.

4. A light bafiFle comprising a pair of opposed light reflecting membersspaced from each other and integrally joined along one edge thereof witha smooth curved portion to form a continuous and smooth light reflectingsurface, stiffening members extending along the other edges of saidreflecting surfaces, said stiffening members comprising said edges bentinto smooth curved surfaces concave toward each other and forming a'channel, a bracket having a portion extending between said lightreflecting members for attaching said light reflecting members to alight fixture, said extending portion having protuberances projectinginto said channel to attach said bracket to said light reflectingmembers and cushioning blocks spaced between each of said lightreflecting members and said extending portion.

5. In combination, a reflector having a large ratio of longitudinaldimension to transverse dimension and adapted to support a pair offluorescent lamps having a large ratio of length to diameter therein, abafile having two reflecting side members spaced between saidfluorescent lamps and extending substantially the full length of saidreflector, said reflecting side members being spaced apart and havingconcave portions extending along one edge thereof to form a channel, andbracket means extending between said reflecting side members, saidbracket means having protuberances slidably received in said channel forsuspendedly mounting said baffle to said reflector.

6. In combination, a reflector having top and side reflecting surfacesand being adapted to support therein a pair of fluorescent lamps havinga large ratio of longitudinal dimension to transverse dimension, and abafile having upper and lower edges spaced between said fluorescentlamps, the lower edge of said baffle extending below said fluorescentlamps to a point where a line tangent to the lower portion of one ofsaid lamps and tangent to the lower edge of said baflie extends at thesame angle as a line tangent to the lower portion of the other of saidfluorescent lamps and tangent to the edge of the adjacent reflectorside, said baffle including a pair of reflecting surfaces having achannel member along the top edge thereof, and brackets slidable intothe space between said reflecting surfaces and having protuberancesreceived in said channel for attaching said bafiie tosaid reflector.

'7. A light baffle comprising a pair of spaced reflecting membersintegrally joined along one edge thereof to form a continuous lightreflecting surface, stiffening means extending along the free edges ofsaid reflecting members comprising said free edges bent to form channelportions, bracket means extending between said reflecting members at theside opposite to said one edge and protuberances associated with saidbracket means extending into said channel portions for attaching saidbracket means to said bafile.

8. In combination, a reflector having a large ratio of longitudinaldimension to transverse dimension and adapted to support a pair offluorescent lamps having a large ratio of length to diameter therein, abaffle having two reflecting side members lying between said fluorescentlamps and extending substantially the full length of said reflector,said reflecting side members being spaced apart and having concaveportions extending along one edge thereof, bracket means extendingbetween said reflecting side members for suspendedly mounting saidbaffle from said reflector, and protuberances associated with saidbracket means projecting into said concave portions for attaching saidbracket means to said reflecting side members.

9. In combination, a reflector having a large ratio of longitudinaldimension to transverse dimension and adapted to support a pair offluorescent lamps having a large ratio of length to diameter therein, abaffle having two substantially. parallel reflecting side membersintegral with each other along one edge spaced between said fluorescentlamps and extending substantially the full length of said reflector,said reflecting side members being spaced apart and having concaveportions extending along one edge thereof, and bracket means extendingbetween said reflecting side members, said bracket means including meansengaging with said concave portions for suspendedly mounting said bafflefrom said reflector, said reflecting members being resiliently formedrelative to each other for holding said concave portions in engagementwith said engaging means.

PAUL D. PHILLIPS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,221,954 Schepmoes Nov. 19, 19402,282,445 Alderman et a1 May 12, 1942 2,291,495 Beals July 28, 19422,332,039 Zampol Oct. 19, 1943 2,334,005 Hoeveler Nov. 9, 1943 2,335,545Shannon et al Nov. 30, 1943 2,337,437 Allen Dec. 21, 1943 2,339,100Netting Jan. 11, 1944 2,345,235 Carter Mar. 28, 1944 2,358,811 KlonerSept. 26, 1944 2,411,952 Biller Dec. 3, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS NumberCountry Date 559,825 England Mar. 7, 1944

